Honeycomb roll assembly for treating paper with felts

ABSTRACT

A pocket in the felt web of a paper making machine is ventilated by the use of a hollow, honeycomb pressure or suction roll, in place of the conventional solid roll. The flow of fluid through the felt and through the honeycomb is controlled by turning and axially sliding a multiple pin control rod, each pin selectively axially sliding one of a plurality of perforated, arcuate valve plugs, or deckles, relative to a perforated pressure pipe, which rotatably supports the roll, so that fluid flow is controllable in a plurality of zones axially across the roll and web.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Edward T. Bryand South Portland, Maine [21] Appl. No. 802,362

[22] Filed Feb. 26, I969 [45] Patented June 29, 1971 73] Assignee Metal-Tech lnc.

Briddelord, Maine [54] HONEYCOMB ROLL ASSEMBLY FOR TREATING H5,I16,ll7,1l8,l23,240;29/ll6,121; 162/369, 370, 371, 372, 375

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,057,079 10/1962 Schmidt 34/115U 3;110,s75 11/1963 Justus 34/ll6X 3,139,375 6/1964 Bryand 29/121 FOREIGN PATENTS 534,389 3/1941 GreatBritain 34/111 51,705 10/1932 Norway 34 111 Primary ExaminerCharles J. Myhre- Assistant Examiner-Harry B. Ramey Attorney-Pearson and Pearson ABSTRACT: A pocket in the felt web of a paper making machine is ventilated by the use of a hollow, honeycomb pressure or suction roll, in place of the conventional solid roll. The flow of fluid through the felt and through the honeycomb is controlled by turning and axially sliding a multiple pin control rod, each pin selectively axially sliding one of a plurality of perforated, arcuate valve plugs, or deckles, relative to a perforated pressure pipe, which rotatably supports the roll, so that fluid flow is controllable in a plurality of zones axially across the roll and web.

PATENTEU JUN29 I971 SHEET 1 BF 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD T. BRYAND ATTORNEYS PATENTEU JUH29 1971 SHEET 2 BF 2 INVENTOR. EDWARD T. BRYAND PW "'Pmm ATTORNEYS I-IONEYCOMB ROLL ASSEMBLY FOR TREATING PAPER WITH FELTS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In paper making machines of the Fourdrinier type, the paper making felts are trained around carrier rolls, often of small diameter, the carrier rolls being located in the space between dryer drums of much greater diameter. The effect of the close spacing of the large dryer drums, the confinement caused by the travelling felt web, and by the travelling paper web has been to form a pocket which, while open at the ends, tends to retain moisture and thus reduce the rate of drying of the felts.

It has heretofore been proposed to substitute a honeycomb roll, rotatably mounted on a stationary hot air pipe, for the conventional solid carrier roll in the pocket for the purpose of blowing hot air outwardly through the felt into the pocket to not only increase the drying rate, but to cause the moist air to migrate out of the pocket to ventilate the pocket.

The relatively wide paper making felts used on commercial paper machines require that the honeycomb roll assembly be equally elongated to support the felt from one selvedge to the other, thereby presenting problems of sag, stress, strain, contraction and expansion in the assembly. It has also been found that evaporation varies across the web, so that provision should be made for increasing or decreasing hot airflow in various zones along the roll and across the web. Telescopable, perforated cylindrical sleeves within the roll have been used for this purpose, but were found to bind in the lengths necessary, thus being somewhat unsatisfactory.

SUMMARY OF THIS INVENTION In the honeycomb roll assembly of this invention, the honeycomb roll is mounted to rotate around the stationary fluid pressure pipe, on bearings at each opposite end of the pipe, and the fluid is supplied through one end of the pipe. A predetermined arcuate pattern of spaced perforations extends axially along the pipe from one end to the other, so that air blasts, or suction if desired, will occur in a wide, full length band therealong to pass through the open honeycomb cells and the interstices of the felt supported thereon. Deckle, or valve, means is provided to control the air flow in, for exam ple, eight zones along the roll, so that each zone is independently adjustable from one end of the assembly. Preferably the deckle, or valve, means is a plurality of arcuate, valve plugs, each axially slidable in tracks for a short travel in its zone, and each having perforations which register with the perforations in the pipe. Thus by actuating one rod, or a series of rods, at the end of the assembly, each adapted to slide one of the spaced apart plugs axially, the circular holes in the pipe can be wholly or partly masked by the sliding plugs for more or less airflow in the zone.

THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a fragmentary diagrammatic side elevation of a portion of a paper making machine showing the dryer drums, felt and paper webs and a felt dryer roll of the invention in a pocket;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged front elevational view, partly in section, ofthe dryer roll assembly shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the dryer roll assembly of FIG. 2, with parts broken away; and

FIG. 4 is a view in section ofline 4-4 of FIG. 3.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT As shown in the drawing, a typical Fourdrinier paper mak ing machine may have a drying section, in which large diameter drying drums, such as 21, 22 and 23, are journaled, with the endless felts 24 and endless web of paper 25 trained therearound or thereover, all in a well-known manner.

It will be seen that the felt carrier roll assembly 27 is located in what is known in the trade as a pocket 28, in that it is confined in a space delimited by travelling webs and rotating rolls so that moist air can only escape from the ends of the pocket.

The felt carrier roll assembly 27 of this invention takes the place of the solid roll formerly used, and includes the stationary fluid pressure pipe 32, fixed to the frame 33 by the brackets 34. Pressure pipe 32 extends transversely of the machine 20, for the full length of pocket 28, and the full width of web 24, one end being usually a dead end as at 35, and the other end 36 having a right angular pressure supply conduit 37 connected to a source of positive, or negative, pressure. Since the illustrated assembly 27 is for the purpose of drying felt web 24, conduit 37 is connected to a source 381 of hot air under pressure, so that the hot air will take up and remove moisture from the felt.

The honeycomb openwork roll, or sleeve, 41, is of a known type shown in my Pat. No. 3,139,375 of June 30, 1964, or 3,259,961 of July 12, 1966, the roll being formed of thin strips 42 which define open ended cells 43 and provide edgewise support to the web 24, while providing a maximum of open area for the passage of air. Each opposite end of roll 41 is rotatably supported in bearings 44 on pipe 32, for free rotation around the pipe while acting as a carrier, or support, for the felt web. The cylindrical inner face 45, of honeycomb roll 4] is at a spaced distance from the outer face 46 of the stationary pipe 32.

Pipe 32 includes a predetermined pattern of spaced apart perforations, such as 48, the staggered perforations 48 covering an area 49 of predetermined width, such as an angular distance of or the remainder of the pipe being unperforated to serve as a seal. The area 49 extends the full length of the pipe 32 from one selvedge 50 of the felt web 24 to the other selvedge 51.

A plurality such as eight, deckle, or valve, means 53 are provided within pipe 32 to adjustably control the flow of fluid through the perforations 48. Preferably the pipe 32 is divided lengthwise into eight individual zones, such as 54 and 55, and a deckle shoe 56, of arcuate cross section is supported in tracks 57, in each zone, for short travel in the pipe, such as one or two inches, depending on the diameter of the perforations 48 required to be masked.

Each deckle shoe 56 corresponds to a sliding valve plug in having a plurality of perforations 58, identical with the perforations 48 in its zone and in registration therewith. It will be seen that when the shoe 56 is moved axially from a position in which the perforations 48 and 58 are in registration, the perforations will gradually close until they are completely masked, and that the rate of flow in each zone can therefore be adjusted to the amount required or desired.

The partly cylindrical outer face 60 of each shoe and the inner face 61 of pipe 32 may be machined for better sliding and sealing contact if desired.

A single control rod 63 is axially slidable within the pipe 32 and provided with a turn knob 64 exteriorly of the end 36 so that the rod 63 can be turned to any one of eight different angular positions and then pulled for one inch or more. Eight pins, such as 65, are located at spaced distances along the rod, each at one of the said angular positions and each deckle, or valve, plug, 56, includes a groove 66 into which its adjacent pin 65 fits when the rod is appropriately turned.

In operation, it will be seen that by turning the knob 64 to a selected position from outside the assembly 27, the pin of a particular shoe will engage the shoe, the shoe may be moved, and the size of the perforations 48 and 58 can be controlled in the desired zone. Thus the hot air blast through the felt 24 can be increased or decreased in specific areas across the web when a correction of the drying profile is required. The blasts also cause a migration of moist air from the pockets 28 which has been found to permit an increase of machine speed of from 13 percent to 17 percent, thereby substantially reducing cost of operation.

A seal 67 of micarta, or the like, preferably is affixed over each joint, or space, 68, between adjacent shoes 56.

As best shown in FIG. 3 the spaces 68 between adjacent shoes 56, permit individual axial movement of the shoes and are arranged to be located in unperforated portions of the pipe. When the ends of the shoes are tongued and grooved, and the pipe perforations are staggered, the spaces 68 correspond in configuration with the tongues and grooves.

What I claim is:

1. In a felt dryer roll assembly for removing moisture from a felt web in a paper making machine, said assembly being of the type having:

a stationary fluid pressure pipe with perforations spaced axially therealong, said pipe having an inner face and an outer face;

a cylindrical sleeve of honeycomb openwork rotatably mounted on the outer face of said pipe to support said web, and

means for supplying hot fluid under pressure to said pressure pipe;

I the combination of a plurality of axially extending, spaced apart shoes, each of arcuate cross section and mounted to move axially within said pipe in sliding contact with the inner face of said pressure pipe, each said shoe having perforations adapted to register with the perforations in said pressure pipe;

means within said pipe slidably supporting each said shoe for said axial movement,

and control means, extending outside of said pressure pipe, selectively engageable and disengageable with each said shoe within said pipe for axially moving said shoes to adjust the quantity of hot, pressurized fluid flow through said perforations.

2. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein:

said support means comprises axially extending track means for guiding the same within said pipe.

3. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a plurality of said shoes, each axially spaced a predetermined distance from the other and said control means includes a single, slidable, control rod, having a plurality of pins spaced therealong and normal thereto each for axially moving one of said shoes, when at one ofa plurality of angular positions.

4. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein:

the perforations in said pipe and shoes are in two parallel rows, with the perforations in one row staggered and located opposite the spaces between the perforations in the other row,

and each said shoe includes tongues and grooves at each opposite end, for conforming to the staggered arrangement of said perforations.

5. A felt treatment roll assembly adapted to fit in a pocket formed by the felt of a paper making machine, said assembly comprising:

a stationary fluid pressure pipe mounted transversely of said machine in a pocket formed by said felt, said pipe having perforations spaced axially and circumferentially thereon, in a pattern of predetermined angular width;

a honeycomb roll rotatably mounted on said pipe, to support said felt in said pocket while permitting fluid to freely pass between said perforations and the exterior face of said felt; plurality of individual valve means within said pipe, mounted end to end with a slight endwise clearance therebetween, each valve means defining one ofa plurality of zones along said roll and including a partly cylindrical valve plug, having perforations in registration with the perforations on said pipe,

axially extending track means supporting each said valve and a single control rod extending axially from one end of said pipe to the other end thereof, said pipe having a plurality of pins normal thereto for individually moving said plugs axially according to a desired flow profile. 

1. In a felt dryer roll assembly for removing moisture from a felt web in a paper making machine, said assembly being of the type having: a stationary fluid pressure pipe with perforations spaced axially therealong, said pipe having an inner face and an outer face; a cylindrical sleeve of honeycomb openwork rotatably mounted on the outer face of said pipe to support said web, and means for supplying hot fluid under pressure to said pressure pipe; the combination of a plurality of axially extending, spaced apart shoes, each of arcuate cross section and mounted to move axially within said pipe in sliding contact with the inner face of said pressure pipe, each said shoe having perforations adapted to register with the perforations in said pressure pipe; means within said pipe slidably supporting each said shoe for said axial movement, and control means, extending outside of said pressure pipe, selectively engageable and disengageable with each said shoe within said pipe for axially moving said shoes to adjust the quantity of hot, pressurized fluid flow through said perforations.
 2. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein: said support means comprises axially extending track means for guiding the same within said pipe.
 3. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein said assembly includes a plurality of said shoes, each axially spaced a predetermined distance from the other and said control means includes a single, slidable, control rod, having a plurality of pins spaced therealong and normal thereto each for axially moving one of said shoes, when at one of a plurality of angular positions.
 4. A felt dryer roll assembly as specified in claim 1, wherein: the perforations in said pipe and shoes are in two parallel rows, with the perforations in one row staggered and located opposite the spaces between the perforations in the other row, and each said shoe includes tongues and grooves at each opposite end, for conforming to the staggered arrangement of said perforations.
 5. A felt treatment roll assembly adapted to fit in a pocket formed by the felt of a paper making machine, said assembly comprising: a stationary fluid pressure pipe mounted transversely of said machine in a pocket formed by said felt, said pipe having perforations spaced axially and circumferentially thereon, in a pattern of predetermined angular width; a honeycomb roll rotatably mounted on said pipe, to support said felt in said pocket while permitting fluid to freely pass between said perforations and the exterior face of said felt; a plurality of individual valve means within said pipe, mounted end to end with a slight endwise clearance therebetween, each valve means defining one of a plurality of zones along said roll and including a partly cylindrical valve plug, having perforations in registration with the perforations on said pipe, axially extending track means supporting each said valve plug, and a single control rod extending axially from one end of said pipe to the other end thereof, said pipe having a plurality of pins normal thereto for individually moving said plugs axially according to a desired flow profile. 